Dental instrument



June 16, 1936. A. E THORNBERRY I DENTAL INSTRUMENT Filed Dec. 18, 1954 Patented June 16, 1936 DENTAL INSTRUMENT Albert Ewing Thornberry, Cambridge, Ohio Application December 18, 1934, Serial No. 758,112 Claims. (01. 128-215) This invention relates to improvements in instruments for use by dentists and pertains par ticularly to a device for use in the giving of local anesthesia.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an instrument which is designed to facilitate the location with positive accuracy of the point most desirablefor the insertion of a hypoderrnic needle in the making of what is known as a mandibular nerve block or conductive anesthesia of the mandibular nerve.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an instrument of the above described character having the following particular benefits to the dental profession:

The avoidance of extensive penetration of the tissue in finding the desirable spot for the particular type of anesthesia referred to, thereby eliminating the dangers of injury to the tissue resulting from the insertion, or other accidents possible or incident to such penetration;

Providing accuracy in the location of the mandibular nerve at the desired spot most suitable for this type of anesthesia or block, thus avoiding the many mistakes or misses known in the dental profession in the search for such nerve;

Providing the unskilled operator witha protective guide in the examination of the particular part of the oral cavity to be operated on and a definite course for the needle used in this form and type of anesthesia, and

Reduction of time of effectiveness from the present delay down tc a minimum or one minute.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawing but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dental instrument constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a view in the nature of a plan.

Referring to the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the views, the present invention comprises a thimble member I which is designed to receive a forefinger and which is preferably open longitudinally, as illustrated, to adapt it to fingers of different sizes as it is necessary that the finger be extended a definite distance into the thimble.

Formed integral with the edge of the thimble l at the forward or constricted end of the same is a longitudinally directed fiat arm 2 which is longitudinally arched, as illustrated, and is curved or cut inwardly at each longitudinal edge as indi cated at 3, so that its middle portion is relatively narrow. Q

The forward end of the arm 2 arches or curves downwardly toward the longitudinal center of the thimble l and then is reversely curved slightly, as indicated at i, to present alongitudinally convex surface upon its under side which terminates in a substantially ball-shaped nib 5, L j

At each side of the arm 2 adjacent the forward or free end thereof is an integral upstanding wing 5. These wings are in upwardly divergent relation as illustrated, andat the extreme end of the arm there is formed integrallytherewith a terminal upturned tongue 7 which is of mate; rially less height than the wings 6 at the sides of the arm and which extends in a line nearly at right angles to the portion of the" arm from which it springs. I

A passage 8 is formed through the arm to ex tend downwardly through the center of the nib 5 and this passage extends in a line slightly oblique to the portion of the arm through which it passes so that a' hypodermic needle extended ther'ethro'ugh' will move in a line directed toward the front end of the arm. 7

In the use of the present instrument, theind'ex finger of the user is inserted into the thimble and forced forwardly until the tip reaches the transverse marking line 9 formed across the under side of the armapproximately at the point where the under concave and convex surfaces" merge; With the instrument thus fixed to the finger, the same is inserted into the' oral cavity, the incurved or convex side edges 3' of the armpermitting the placement of the instrument be bind the third molar tooth. The finger at the tip is left. free as will bereadily seenlto facilitate the finding of the retromola'r triangle upon the ramus which is located in the procedure of man dibular nerve blocking.

The opening 8 passing through the nib 5 is located at the proper distance beyond the line 9 so that when the finger is on the retromolar triangle the said opening will be in position todirect the hypodermic needle toward the inferior mandibular or inferior dental canal or foramen, so

that the injection may be made into, or in sufiiciently close proximity to, the inferior dental nerve to effect the desired anaesthesia. The wings 6 disposed at the sides of the arm 2 and the upturned end 1 of the arm serve to protect the adjacent tissues of the oral cavity from the needle point as the latter is being introduced for extension through the passage 8 The upturned end portion 1, in addition toacting as a bumper or stop, serves as a guide for the needle.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that with the herein described instrument, the process of injecting local anaesthetic for blocking the inferior mandibular nerve may be easily and quickly carried out without danger of unnecessarily hurting or injuring the patient and with the assurance that the needle point will be directed to the proper spot for the efficient anaesthetizing of the nerves.

When the instrument is not in use, it may be kept in a suitable antiseptic such, for example} as alcohol which will constantly sterilize the instrument and at the same time will eifect the sterilization of the surface of the oral cavity with which the instrument comes in contact as it is put into position, due to the carrying of alcohol into the cavity with it, the passage 8 particularly serving to maintain sufficient of this fluid to properly sterilize the area into which the needle is inserted.

What is claimed is:-

1. In oral anaesthesia, an instrument facilitating the location of the proper area in the oral cavity for the insertion of a hypodermic needle in the operation of blocking the inferior dental or mandibular nerve, comprising an elongated member, means for securing the member to a finger whereby a portion of the member will extend from the end and over the top of the finger, means designating a point on said member at which the end of the finger is to be located, and needle guiding means'carried by the member and so spaced beyond the said last means as to indicate, when the said finger is located on the retromolar triangle, the correct point for insertion of the needle so that the needle will penetrate to about the point where said nerve enters the inferior dental foramen.

2. In oralanaesthesia, an instrument facilitating the location of the proper area in the oral cavity for the insertion of a hypodermic needle in the operation of blocking the inferior dental or mandibular nerve, comprising an elongated member, a split sleeve open at both ends and having said member projecting from one end thereof, said sleeve being designed to receive a finger with the member extending from the sleeve across the top of the finger, means on the member designating a point thereon to which the end of the finger is to extend, and needle guiding means carried by the member and so spaced beyond the said last means as to indicate, when the said finger is located on the retromolar triangle, the correct point for insertion of the needle so that the needle will penetrate to about the point where said nerve enters the inferior dental foramen.

3. In oral anaesthesia, an instrument facilitating the location of the proper area in the oral cavity for the insertion of a hypodermic needle in the operation of blocking the inferior dental or mandibular nerve, comprising an elongated member, a split sleeve open at both ends and having said member projecting from one end thereof, said sleeve being designed to receive a finger with the member extending from the sleeve across the top of the finger, means on the member designating a point thereon to which the end of the finger is to extend, needle guiding means carried by the member and so spaced beyond the said last means as to indicate, when the said finger is located on the retromolar triangle, the correct point for insertion of the needle so that the needle will penetrate to about the point where said nerve enters the inferior dental foramen and laterally disposed guard elements upon said member adjacent said last means. 4. In oral anaesthesia, an instrument facilitating the location of the proper area in the oral cavity for the insertion of a hypodermic needle in the operation of blocking the inferior dental or mandibular nerve, comprising an elongated member, means carried by the member to receive a finger whereby the said member will extend longitudinally of the finger and beyond the end thereof, means marking a point on the member to which the end of said finger extends, a nib formed upon the underside of the member at the end remote from the end of the finger and having a passage extending therethru and transversely of the member, said passage being so spaced beyond the said marking means as to indicate, when the finger is located in the retromolar triangle, the correct point for insertion of the needle so that the needle will penetrate to about the point where the said nerve enters the inferior dental foramen.

5. In oral anaesthesia, an instrument facilitating the location of the proper area in the oral cavity for the insertion of a hypodermic needle in the operation of blocking the inferior dental or mandibular nerve, comprising an elongated member, means carried by the member to receive a finger whereby the said member will extend longitudinally of the finger and beyond the end thereof, means marking a point on the member to which the end of said finger extends, a nib formed upon the underside of the member at the end remote from the end of the finger and having a passage extending therethru and transversely of the member, said passage being so spaced beyond said marking means as to indicate, when the finger is located on the retromolar triangle, the correct point for insertion of the needle so that the needle will penetrate to about the point where said nerve enters the inferior dental foramen, a pair of guard wings extending from opposite sides of said member and having said passage disposed therebetween, and a guard wing extending upwardly from the member at the end of the same adjacent the passage.

ALBERT EWING 'I'HORNBERRY. 

